John William Sullivan, Bill or Sully to many, of Andover, age 67,passed away at his home on his wedding anniversary, April 8th.Bill was born in Braintree, MA to Timothy Joseph and Helen (O'Connor) Sullivan. He was employed for over 30 years with Hewlett-Packard at the medical products division at Waltham and Andover. In 2000, Bill suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and worked valiantly over the years to regain some words and movement, but in spite of many set backs always kept a positive attitude and great sense of humor. One of his favorite sayings was that life is not a dress rehearsal, and to that end, lived each day to the fullest.

He was a master fisherman with many trophy fishes in his collection. He spent years on his boat in and around Falmouth, where he summered, often chartering friends and family. There often were seen boats stealing out of the marina early in the morning trying to discover his secret. A Marine, Bill had strong leadership skills. The sign at the helm of his beloved Relief III, said it all "do us all a favor and do it my way" -The Captain. Sully had many friends who enjoyed the various fishing and hunting trips that he organized. He was an Eagle Scout, and was one of the oldest altar boys to serve at St. Thomas Moore in Braintree. He was a skier, and pursued his favorite hobby hunting deer (bucks only) in Maine and Elk in Idaho. He served during the Tet Offensive in Viet Nam. Bill was a bachelor until age 51, when he married the love of his life after knowing her only 4 months. He is survived by his wife, Diana Sullivan (Coletti), a neice, Diane Milley, and 5 step-children, Alison Kieklak of Fayetteville, AR, Thomas LeClair of Berkeley, CA, Theodore LeClair of Marshfield, MA, Benjamin LeClair of Los Angeles, CA, and Alexander Joseph of Andover, and 9 grandchildren.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours omitted.

Service Information

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Saturday, April 16 at Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta Church, 800 Columbia Road, Dorchester.
Interment Private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be made to Blessed Mother of Theresa of Calcutta Church Choir Fund.